This newsletter is from the What Works Clearinghouse and provides an overview of the New Chance program. The program supports TANF recipients who have dropped out of school through GED preparation, life skill training, parenting programs, childcare assistance, and case management. New Chance was found to be successful in helping participants complete education.

This toolkit was authored by the Council for Labor and Economic Growth, Low Wage Worker Advancement Committee and provides information on how employers can support employees. Employers can often provide work supports to help retain workers by helping workers to build assets, which in turn, reduces employer turnover. Specifically, the Council provides strategies to help employers inform workers of asset building programs in the community.

Sector strategies can help support low-income workers by increasing job readiness and encouraging work attachment. The Aspen Institute authored this report, which provides an overview of innovative sectoral employment strategies that are utilized in workforce development. Sector-based programs can often partner with local employers to further support workers in the workplace.

This report is from the Hard-to-Employ Demonstration and Evaluation Project, which is funded by the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Specifically, this report provides information on the program, the research design, and an overview of the four participating programs.

This Webcast was sponsored by the National Governors’ Association and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). Researchers present finds from a national study of state TANF directors on the changes implemented as a result of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

In 1999, the Foster Care Independence Act doubled the Federal funds for independent living programs. This research paper is from the Government Accountability Office and provides an overview of each State’s funding allocation, services provided, and State coordination of services. Through this research, GAO recommends that HHS actions could better prepare youth leaving foster care into independent living situations, such as improving access to program information.

This report is from the Urban Institute and is part of a series on asset building and the low-income population. In this report, authors provide an overview of 20 current research studies on the assets and liabilities of low-income households. By synthesizing the data, researchers offer a picture of the balance sheet for low-income families and conclude with suggestions for future research on this topic.

This document presents 2008 data from the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program of the U.S. Census Bureau. The SAIPE program produces poverty estimates annually for all school districts in the United States, as well as poverty and median household income estimates annually for all counties and states.

From the Urban Institute, this report is part of a series on the importance of asset building for low-income families. Specifically, authors identify the most reliable data sources for conducting research on the low-income population and asset holdings. Additionally, this resource provides an overview on how sources can be improved to best understand data on assets.

This policy brief is from the National Human Services Assembly and provides information on effective home visiting program models. Home visiting is a family-strengthening strategy that can support not only parents and caregivers, but also can influence the lives of young children. Studies have shown that home visits can increase positive outcomes for children in at-risk families.